Yazoo mowers?

[rusty ol ranger]

Im going to look at, and possibly buy, this thing tomorrow...

Its got a big honkin Vtwin kohler of unknown HP, a 60 in deck, and the guy said it runs/mows awesome. Only thing wrong with it is one of the wheels the deck rides on is flat and off the rim.

Are these mowers any good? Any idea what vintage? The hour meter says its got 6000 hours on it. But eh, its an old commercial unit.

Hes only asking 575 for it. Id use it to mow at the old house with 5 acres and much of it is flat open field.

Currently im useing an old POS simplcity sunrunner for the front and side yard (more obsticles) and the farmall cub for the big areas. That simplcity is a 36in deck with a 8hp flatheaf briggs, its been a trooper but it gets its ass kicked out there.

Input?

 

[Curious Hound]

All I know is that they're commercial mowers. For that price, if it runs and cuts, you're in good shape. Congratulations!

 

[rusty ol ranger]

All I know is that they're commercial mowers. For that price, if it runs and cuts, you're in good shape. Congratulations!

Thats what i figured. The thing was sittin out by the road (i found it on CL earlier but ran across it driving to town). It looks crazy easy to work on and built like a damn tank. The deck is shaft drivin by a shaft that rivals a rangers drive shaft.

Didnt really see any leaks, no obvious signs of abuse, its just....old and been around the block a time or 2. One shelid was missing on a blade pulley, but eh.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

They are indeed tanks. Excellent mowers though. You may have trouble finding certain parts over the years, but most can still be sourced if your Google-foo is strong. They used many "universal" types of parts so you should still be able to find most parts today. I'm sure there are groups on the net that are just like this place, but for Yazoos. The steering on them, many have converted to electric power steering using Saturn in-line units, because turning them at really slow speeds sucks.

In general, I don't think you can go wrong if you don't mind wrenching on it from time to time, because you definitely will be. It's old.

Oh, when you get it stuck, and you will, good luck with that. They're as bad as a zero-turn in that respect.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

They are indeed tanks. Excellent mowers though. You may have trouble finding certain parts over the years, but most can still be sourced if your Google-foo is strong. They used many "universal" types of parts so you should still be able to find most parts today. I'm sure there are groups on the net that are just like this place, but for Yazoos. The steering on them, many have converted to electric power steering using Saturn in-line units, because turning them at really slow speeds sucks.

In general, I don't think you can go wrong if you don't mind wrenching on it from time to time, because you definitely will be. It's old.

Oh, when you get it stuck, and you will, good luck with that. They're as bad as a zero-turn in that respect.

This one has a chain that steers the 3rd wheel. It steered pretty easy just sitting there.

Evendently this one is more desireable then the gear driven ones (this is hydrostat).

Guess we'll see. Commercial mowers are made to mow 40 hrs a week or more. So i doubt me running it 4 hrs a month will make it break a sweat

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Those hydros will be VERY expensive to repair should they need it. I promise that much. Getting parts for them might also pose a problem, seeing how old they are. You wouldn't know they were weak by just test driving it either. It will have to get pretty hot for them to show weakness which takes quite a bit of run time.

I've known a few people over the years that used the old Yazoos, and they raved about them. Other than finding certain parts and getting them stuck.

The steering will seem a lot easier until you've got your weight on it. It also depends on how much tread is on the steer tire and what the terrain consists of, or how soft the ground is while you're moving slow.

Here's a good comparison video on the different Yazoo models.

 

[adsm08]

I 've never heard of Yazoo, but Wheel Horse (I know, it's always about the red ponies with me) used only the Kohler engines for years, and that was the era when they really built their reputation of being indestructible, so I wouldn't worry about the engine much.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The engine im not worried bout in the least.

The hydro is a sunstrand unit, as i understand. Which is who built the old hydros in the IH cub cadets back in the day. There pretty famous for being tough.

I guess if it turns out to be junk ive got an old 78 Yardman tractor that that big horizontal kohler would sit real nice in.

 

[Ranger850]

Did a google search for Yazoo mowers, YazooKees.com showed up. I clicked on that and it was a Husqvarna website. I do know Husqvarna used Kholer motors on some of their mowers. maybe Husqvarna owns the patents or something???

this was interesting too.

The Amazing Yazoo Mower - Modern Survivalists

A collection of resources for the maintenance a 3 wheeled Yazoo Mower. Manuals, clutch adjustment, interchangeable parts, overhauling the transmission and more!

www.modernsurvivalists.com

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Sunstrand hydros were used in millions of tractors over the decades. Simplicity/Allis garden tractors used them for ages.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Well 525 dollars later its mine.

....and holy hell what a machine. When i went to see it it woujdnt run unless the choke was half out. 10 bucks in fresh gas fixed that.

Went out and mowed about 1/2 the side field, thick wet grass and that ol kohler never broke a sweat, chewed thru it at full speed of about 9mph.

Took me about 20 minutes as compared to 40 on the cub or an hr with the simplcity. It runs smooth, no vibration, hydro lift/hydro trans all work flawlessly.

Im tickled as shit.

Only thing i noticed is it gets hung up easy, but im sure the wet grass had alot to do with that.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

All of the older engines seem vastly under-rated HP and torque wise.. My old 19.5hp Onan engine in my Allis 720 has twice the torque of any new 23-25hp modern engine, but it comes at the expense of twice the fuel consumption.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

All of the older engines seem vastly under-rated HP and torque wise.. My old 19.5hp Onan engine in my Allis 720 has twice the torque of any new 23-25hp modern engine, but it comes at the expense of twice the fuel consumption.

Ive read up on that before. IIRC it has to do with the RPM they are rated at or something. Basically they rated them at a higher RPM and below that max RPM they drop off fast, basically they have no torque.

I had a CubCadet RZT with a 26hp kohler spinning a 54in deck that wouldnt of chewed that grass up like this old one did.

I havent even figured out what HP is on this oldone, tbey came with 18 20 and 23. with 20 being the most popular so im assuming thats what this is.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Figured out the engine model...

"K582S"....any good? 23HP.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Figured out the engine model...

"K582S"....any good? 23HP.

Engine will always be covered in coolant no matter how much you work on it. Have fun!